Portable grain-elevator.



No. 688,9l2. Patented nen. |7,^|9o|. w. wATTs. PURTBLE GRAIN ELEVATUB.

(Application led June 17, 1901.)

5 sham-sheet l.

(No Model.)

,9m Patented nec. |7, mol.

W. WATTS. PORTABLE GRAIN ELEVATUR.

(Application filed June 17, 1901.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Windel.)

` No. 683,9l2. Patented nec. a7, mol.

, w. wATTs.

PORTABLE GRAIN ELEVATUR.

(Application led June 17, 1901.)

(No Model.)

l Wa Iren Wa 5' sheets-sheef s.

Nn. 688,912; meme@ Das. mis-mn. w. www.

PORTABLE GRAIN ELEVATR.

(Application ledJune 17, 1901.) (No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sham 4.

Pittem/mq Nu. 688,9l2. Patented He. I7, |906.

W. WATTS.

PRTABLE GRAIN ELEVATR.

(Application led Juno 17, 1901.)

" (No model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 wrmn Wam l N' Bf' .WQ/7%@ Toa/ZZ whom 'it may concern:

1 UNITED STATESv PATENT EEICE.

WARREN WATTS, or CLAY CENTER, KANSAS.'

`PORTABLE e RMN'-ELEvAi-oe.l

1 4seno'11i-rea.Tron forming pero of Leners Patentino. 688,912, dated.'December' 17, 1901.

u Application filed .Tune 1'7, 1901. Serial No. 64.835. (No model.)

' Bo it known that I, WARREN WATTS, a eili- I vzen of the United States,residing at Clay Centor, in tho county of Clay and Stato of Kansas, haveinvented certain. new and usef nl Improvements in PortableGiain.-Elevato1s; and

i I do 'declare the follo'wing to be a full, clear,

and exact description f the inventiomsuch as' will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeinghad to thoaccompanyingdrawings, and to the figures of referencemarked thoroon', which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to grain-elevators; and its object is to provideone which is portable to adapt it for use wherever needed, which e maybe folded to occupy very little space, and

which, by means of its adjust-able parts, may be` swung from oneposition to another to suit the requirement of the machine to porfQrmits best work.

My invention is more particularly adapted .to facilitato in deliveringthe grain from wagons or threshing-machines to a considerin Fig. 1.

able height above them into receptacles, such as granaries, bins, cars,-&c.; and it consists in the c'onstructiomcombination,and arrangement ofparts, as will be more fully described hereinafter, and particularlypointed out in 'the claims.

In the drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure l is a sideelevation of the machine complete, a portion of the conveyor being shownin dotted lines folded ready for transportation. Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view of tho machine, showing from the wagons erthrosh'ors. Fig. 5 is a do-A tail showing the mechanism for folding theupright conveyor to the positionV shown in dotted lines in Fig. l.Fig'j. an elevation of the polo which supports the conveyor when in afolded position, as shown by dotted lines Fig. 7 is a cross -sectiontaken through one of the conveyor-tubes. Fig.l8 is a side elevation ofone of the iiights of the conveyor attached to an endless chain. Fig. 9is a perspective view of one of the fiights of the conveyor detached.Fig-10 is a detail showing the manner of connecting ono of the.conveyors to vits support. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the plato whichcontrols the move- Vmont ofthe swinging crane. Fig. 12 is a sideelevation of the receiving-hopper when tho upper sliding portion isremoved and tho horizontal upper conveyor 15 is attached therotoandshowing the hinged portion of the hopper thrown up. Fig. 13 is an en delevation of4 Fig. 5 when the main conveyor is folded. Fig. 14 is alongitudinal section of tho rotatable gear-frame which is mounted on thetruck-frame and from which the sev-` eral conveyors are operated.`` Fig.1 isacrosssection of Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a cross-section through thehopper and the screw conveyor.

Like numerals of reference indicato corrosponding parts throughout theseveral views.

In carrying out the invention the essential parts of tho mechanismadaptin g the machine particularly for conveying grain may be arrangedin any convenient form of frame.

However, tho preferred embodiment of thoina which extends through thecasing at onoend and is provided with asuitablo pulley 9, which mayreceive a belt to drive a fanning-mill when it is desired to convey thegrain from a bin or granary to the tanning-mill. to clean it,v

the construction of which will be described later-on.

vMounted upon tho top of the casing 7 is a hopper 10,'which conducts thegrain to the Mounted between screw conveyor and which is provided at thebottom with aslidi'ng valve-door 11, operated by moans of a handle 12.The main elevator -13 connects at its bottom with the screw con` Voyerand extends upwardly to a considerable height above the machine and isp/rovided at its upper ond with a hood 14, ha-vi/ng ah open.

IDO

` vator 15, from which the grain is discharged vto into the granary orbin through the opening 15a at its outer extreme end. This upper sectionof the top portion of the main elevator may be folded tothepositionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 when the machine is not inuseand ready to be transported from'place to place. Each. section isprovided with a sprocket at each end, over which an endless which conveythe grain.

In Fig.. 1, A representstheend of a wagon, the tailgate being removed,and from which the grain is dumped into a receiving-hopper 16, which isprovidigd with an upper section 17, one side of .which is almosthorizontal, to extend under the wagon-body, as shown at 17a in Fig. 4.rlo Vthe bottom of this receiving-hopper is attached the conveyer 18,which extends upwardly over the hopper. 10, into which it conducts thegrain. The grain is then admitted to the screw conveyer 8, when it iscaught by the main elevator and conducted to the upper section 15, asbefore de scribed. The conveyer 18 is swiveled within a suitable frameabove the hopper 10 to adapt it to be thrown upon either side of theframe, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, or to the most convenientposition for the wagon.

Mounted near the rearward end of the frame .upon the longitudinal sinsare the cross-pieces 19, which support a gear-frame 20, the lower end ofwhich provides bearings for the shaft 21, to which the power is atchainrevolves, carrying the flights or cups taehed. This gear-frame isrotatably mounted Within a suitable upright bearing 23, secured to thecross-pieees 19. The rotatable gear-frame is provided with a collar 24,keyed upon the vertical portion thereof and provided with a horizontaliiange, through which is formed a series of apertures 23 and in whichapertures a pin may be inserted to engage the apertures in thestationary upright bearing to lock the frame in the desired position orin alinemcnt with the driving power. The horizont-a1 driving-shaft 21has mounted thereon a beveled gear 25, which meshes with a bevel-gear2U, which imparts motion to the second bevel-gear 26, Mounted upon thecross-pieces 19 are suitable standards 27, which provide bearings forthecounter-shaft 2S and which counter'- shaft has rigidly attachedthereto a bevelgear 2t), meshing with the, bevel-gear 26, Thiscounter-shaft carries a sprocket 30 and a belt-pulley 31. The former isconnected by a sprocket-chain to the'sprocket 32011 the horizontal shaftjournale in the frame of the crane Iand revolver. '"i vertical shaft 33through theZ bevel-gearsA L ",Qand 33 at the base of the crane. At theltop of the vertical shaft 33 is mounted a sprocket 3L, which isconnected bysprockct-gearing tothe sprocket 35, mounted on a suitablerotatable bearing at the end of the'crane.- On the lowex-,end

of the shaft to which the sprocket 35 is keyed is mounted a bevel-gear36, meshing with its mate 37v and connected with the sprocket 38 in theelevator-tube 18 lby a sprocket-chain.

`This communicates motion to the endless n ,chain within theelevator-tube 1S, which endrless chain rides over the sprocket39 at thebottom ofthe tube. Y

The pulley 31 upon the counter-shaft 2S is connected by a belt 40 to apulley 40, mount-ed vided at each end with sprocket-wheels over whichthe endless chain carrying a series of ght's travels, and this endlesschain receives its power from the pulley 40 through a suitablesprocket-gearing 42.

The shaft or screw conveyor has its bearings in suitable hangers 43,depending from the truck-frame, and upon this shaft is mounted abevel-gear 44, meshing with the bevelgear 45. The shaft of thebevel-gear 45 extends transversely across the gear-frame and has securedthereon a sprocket 46, which connects by a sprocket-chain 4b"t to thesprocketwheel 47 upon the end of the countershaft 28.

It will be seen that the power is applied to the machine through theshaft 21, which imparts motion to the various parts of the machine through the intermeshing gears and the counter-shaft 28, the countershatt28 being provided with a belt-pulleyand two sprocket-v wheels, onesprocket-wheel operating the conveyer 18 through suitable spocketgearingand the othersprockct-wheel 47 operating the screw conveyor through thesprocket 4 6 and bevel-gearing 44 and 45, while the pulley on thecounter-shaft connects with the pulley in elevator 15.

to a convenient position above the receivinghopper 1G, as shown in Fig.1, into which the grain' from the mainI elevator, is likewise prothemain elevator 13 an d the horizontal upper lon a shaft at the top of themain elevator-- IOO IIO

The wagon containing the grain is backed grain is dumped, when it iscaught by the' flights of the inclined elevator 18 and con# ducted tothe central hopper 10, mountedon one side offset to tit under the'wagon-body, as shown in Fig. 4. The'ba-se of the sliding portion isprovided with suitable cleats 47, .which engage tlieedge of the hopperand limititsslidingmovcment. Thedistance the section may be'slid,however, is sutcient to allow the hopperto assumethe correct posi- ,theframe. Thisreceiving-hopperisprovided with an upper sliding section 17,which hasA tion under the wagon-body after the wagon has been backedagainst the same, and itis guided in iis movement by these cleats 47,which are secured to the onemember and oxtend below'in engagement withtlre sides of the stationary.'portion of the hopper, The

i hinged section may be thrown upward, 'as

shown in Fig. 12. The above arrangement of hopper may beused when it isdesired to convey the grain from the bottom of a bin or granary, inwhich case the horizontal conveyer l is removed from its normal positionat the top of the elevator and attached to the receiving.- hopper andconnected lwith Vthe Asprocket to the bottom of the same by a suitablechain, as shown in Fig. 1.2.4 i The free end of the upper section isadapted to lie upon the oor or at the lowermost point of the bin,asshown in Fig. 12. The bottom of the hopper is formed ofdownwardly-convergingsides,

, one of which has fitted therein a sliding valve zo' 49, provided witha handle 50, which extends upwardly beside the conveyor-tube 18 Withinconvenient-reach of the operator, and when the valve is pushed'inwardthe supply of grain to the conveyer 18 is cutoff. It will be seen.25

that the'supply of grain can be controlled at will by the regulation ofthis valve. The base of the receiving-hopper is provided with i asuitable foot 51, upon which it rests.

Mounted upon the truck-frame is a frame 52, supporting a swinging crane53. This swinging crane is mounted in suitable bearings on the side ofthe frame 52 and has attached thereto a horizontally-disposed plate 54,lying parallel with the top of the frame.

The plate 54 and the top ot the frame are provided with a series ofapertures arranged inthe arc of a circle and are in vertical alinementwith each other, so that a' pin may be -inserted within the apertures tohold the crane at any angle desired. By this construction it will beseen that Ithe crane 53 may be thrown entirely around to any convenientposition and when thus thrown will be held in the desired position, asthe locking-pin is in engagement with the apertures in the plate and thetop of the frame. The vcrane is constructed of metallic tubing andcomprises a Verticalarm and a horizontal arm. Within shaft 33, to whichit secured the bevel-gear 33, which meshes `with the bevel-gear 33 on ithe horizontal shaft journaled in the frame 52, lasbefore described.Therotary motion f sprocket'' through the sprocket Stat the .p Thehorizontal arm'of the crane is provided on its extreme end with'4 l aswivel-bearing 57, through which the shaft y l imparted/[o the shaft 55through the bevel-l gears at the base of the frame operates the58,carrying the 'sprocket-wheel 35' and the lbevel-gear 36,revolves,thebevel-gear 36`meshing with its mate 37 and connected lto the l' sprocketin the conveyer 18 and operates the I endless chain in said conveyer 18.It will be seen thatby means of t the swivel-bearing v.57 the conveyer18 may be thrown around to any desired position or to thev other 4sideof ertnre at one end to lit upon the boss ofthe bearing 57 and-at itsother end is'formed a longitudinal slot 61,-in which the shaft carryingthe sprockets 38 may be slid back and forth to tighten or loosen theconveyor-chain,

as occasion requires. Mounted upon the.

frame 52 is a windlass G2, having the usual crank-handle andpawl-and-ratchet mechanism an upon which may be wound a rope 63,connected with the horizontal upper conveyerl. This rope extendsalongside the main cdnveyer 13, passing over a pulley 64., mounted abovethe main conveyor, and its end is attached to' the horizontal conveyer15. When the windlass is turned to wind in the rope, the horizontalconveyer is elevated to a position higher or 'above the main elevatoror'it may belowered to any desired po-I sition. V y

Mounted upon the truck-frame above the screw conveyer isa circularhopper 10, into which the grain is dumped as itleaves the passes to thescrew conveyer. I This 4hopper is provided with a sliding valve 1l,mounted above the opening and controls the supply of grain tothe screwconveyer. The hopper is readily detachable from the frame, yand when itis desired to clean thegrain before it is stored into a granaryacleaning-mill may be attached to the top of the frame in the positionthat the hopper occupies in the drawings, and as the grain passes from`the conveyer 18 it is deposited within the cleaningmill, which conductsit to the screw oonveyer;V The application of the cleaning-mill will notnecessitate the derangeinent of the other parts of the machine otherthan the hopper. The cleaningmill is usually desired when the uppersection 15 is attached to the receivin g-hopper and thev grain is takenfrom' the floor or bottomof aV bin, as shown inlFig. 412.

'Each olf-the conveyors is formed of two semicircularouter plates 66,overlapping each [other at the ends and secured together by a bolt orrivet, Aa cross-section of the conveyer being shown inFig.

' 7. AThe rivet which.

IIO

holds the sections together also holds apiece of channelsteel 67withinthe tube andv which channel-pieces act as vguides for the flightsof the con veyers. Each flight is formed from a semicircular plate 68,corresponding in shape to one-half of the interior of the tube 66, andeachplate is provided with a flanged portion 69 and a central recess 70.The links ige of the chain are provided with lateral extensions 71,which engage the face of the fiights and aord a means of attaching thesame thereto, which may be by means of rivets, as shown in Fig. 7. Oneend of the link extends within the recessed portion 70, while the otherend extends upon the other side of the recessedportion and connects withthe the lever 80 willfollow the arc indicated by next adjoining link.By' forming the recesses in the flights the chain is permitted to 'comenearer the center of the load, and a larger sprocket may be used at theheads of the elevators. The form of iiight and the mannerof attachingthe same to the chain are shown in Figs. 7, 8,' and 9.

The main-elevator tube 13 is formed of two sections joined together nearthe middle portion thereof, and when the machine is not in use and it isdesired to convey the same from one place to another the top section ofthe main elevator 13 and the horizontal upper section 15 may be foldeddown to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In order tofacilitate and conveniently fold the parts in this position or raisethem to the position in full lines, I have devised a novel mechanism,Whichwill be hereinafter described,and shown in Fig. 5. The two sectionsare hinged to the supporting-arm 74 at a point 75, the supporting-armresting on the end of the truck-frame and extending upwardly beyond thehinged vpart 75 and provided at its end with an eye 76. Upon thesupporting-arm 74 is a blockl 74, having pulleys 77 and 77 therein.These pulleys form the guides for a rope or cable 78, connected to thewindlass 79 at the base of the supporting-arm. This windlass is providedwith the usual crankarm and ratchet mechanism. The other end of thecable is securely fastened to the end of the lever 80, which is pivotedat 75 to the supporting-arm- 74. The lever is provided with an extensionS1, which forms a saddle for the upper section 15 when folded inte theposition shown in Fig. 5, and the end of this lever supports a stay-rod82, which is connected at one end to the end of the lever and at theother end. to the upper section of the conveyer 13. A spring 77b issecured at one end to the opening 76 in the end of the supporting-arm7i, and its other end is fastened to the upper section of the conveyer13. This spring aids in raising the elevator as itis released of itstension with the parts when in a raised position. Assuming the partstobe in the position shown in Fig. 5 and it is desired to raise theelevatol-When the Windlass is revolved, the cud of dotted lines in Fig.5 until it reaches a point opposite the pulleys 77 and 77, when thepulley 77 will take the cable and the end of the lever will pass totheposition shown 'in dotted lines in Fig. 5, carrying with it itsextension or saddle 8l, which will likewise assume theposition shown indotted lines 1n Fig. 5. Ihe horizontal conveyer 15 may he'raised by theoperation of the windlass 62 on the frame hold it within the stirrup.This arm is fitted Within a socket 93 at one en'l of the frame and maybe detached therefrom at will. A plan view of the armis shown in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described machine will he readily apparentwithout further description,

and it will be understood that various changes in the form, proportion,andconstructien of parts may be resorted to without departing Vfrom thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, wha I claim, and desire to secu reby Letters Patent, is-

l. In a grain-elevator, a suitable supporting truck-frame, a screwconveyer mountedwithin the frame, a foldable inc-lined conveyerconnected with the screw conveyer, an aus:- iliary horizontal'upperconveyer carried by the inclined conveyer and adapted to fold therewith,and mechanism for folding and raising the cenveyers.

2. In a grain-elevator having a suitable supporting truck -frame, thescrew conveyer mounted within said frame, the inclined folding conveyer13 connected with said screw conveyer and the swinging conveyerlSadaptedto supply said screw conveyer, substantially as shown and described.

In a grain-elevator, a suitable supporting truck-frame, a screw conveyermounted within the frame, a vertical conveyer connected with the'screwconveyer, and a horizontal auxiliary lconveyer carried by the linclinedconveyer a swinging conveyer` adapt loo IIO

its

ed to supply the screw conveyer and carrying at its lower end areceiving-hopper, and means for operating all of the conveyers from onesource of power.

4. In a grain-elevator, a suitable supporting truck-- frame havingascrew conveyer mounted therein and an inclined conveyer connected withthe screw conveyer, a det ach' able hopper mounted upon the frame abovethe screw conveyer-,an inclined conveyer rotatably supported above thehopper and providedat its lower end witlra receivinghop`. per, means forswinging said inclined conveyer upon either side ot' the truck-frame,

and means for operating allpf the conveyers from one sourceA of power.

5. In a grain-elevator, theepinhination with a supporting truck-frame,of a main conveyer extending from the bottom of the frame to apoint'above the top, an auxiliary conveyer carried by said mainconveyer, and means for folding the upper portion ofthe main con- .veyerand the auxiliary conveyer, combined with means for raising theauxiliary conveyer independently of the main conveyer.

6. The combination with a supporting truck-frame, of a main conveyerextending from the bottom of the frame to a point above the top, anauxiliarydetachable horizontal conveyer carried by the main conveyer andadapted to be raised and lowered, a screw adapted to deliver grain tothe main conveyer, a hopperdet-achably mounted upon the frame above thescrew conveyer, and an inclined conveyer to supply said hopper.

`7. In a grain-elevator, a suitable supporting truck-frame, a screwconveyer mounted within the frame, an inclined conveyer connected withthe screw conveyer, a hopper detachably mounted upon the frame above thescrew conveyer, and provided with a cut-off slide to control the feedto'the screw conveyer, v a swinging crane extending above the frame overthe hopper, an inclined conveyer carried by said crane and adapted todeliver grain into the hopper, and a receiving-hopper attached to theend of the inclined conveyer, and means for operatin g all of theconveyers from one source of power.

8. In a grain-elevator, a suitable supporting truck-frame having mainlongitudinal sills carried by the transverse axles, wheels mounted uponthe axles to adapt the machine to be moved from place to place, a screwcouveyer mounted within the frame, an inclined main conveyer connectedto the screw conveyer, an auxiliary horizontal upper conveyer `carriedby the main conveyer, an inclined conveyer supplying the screw conveyer,a gearframe rotatably mounted upon the sills of the frame and carryinggearingwhich is connected by suitable sprocket-gearing to each of theconveyors for operating the latter.

9. In a grain-elevator, a suitablesupporting truck-frame, a suitableconveyer mounted within the frame, an inclined conveyer connected with ascrew conveyer, an /inclined swinging conveyer carrying at its lower enda receiving-hopper provided with an upper slidable section and a hingedintermediate" portion, substantially as described! l0. The combinationin a grain-elevator, of an inclined conveyer carrying at its lower end areceiving-hopper, and having an upper slidable detachable portionprovided with a lateral horizontal side, the lower portion of saidreceiving-hopper formed with a stationary 4 base and an upper sectionwhich is hinged to the inclined conveyer provided with a sliding cut-offvalve, substantially as described. 11. In a grain-elevator, a suitablesupporting truck-frame, a screw conveyer mounted conveyer mounted withinthe truck-frame andwithin the frame, an inclined conveyer connected withthe screw conveyer, an inclined conveyer rotatably mounted above theframe, a hopper detachably mounted upon the truckframe beneath thedischarge end of the' inclined conveyer and provided with a' cut-olfslide to control the feed of the grain to the screw con veyer, and meansfor operating all of the conveyers from a suitable gear-frame mounted onthe truck-frame to which each conveyer is connected by suitable gearing,substantially as described. f Y

12. A grain-elevator provided with endless conveyers, each of which isinclosed within a circular casing formed from two semicircular platesconnected at their edges, sprockets suitably mounted at the ends of eachconveyer, au endless chain operated by said sprockets, flights carriedby the endless chain,

ing, substantiall y as set forth.

13. A grain-elevator provided with endless circular casing formed fromtwo semicircular plates connected at their edges, longitudinalchannel-bars held within the casing at the joint of the semicircularplates, an endless chain carrying [lights and which i'liglits are formedfrom asemicircular plate provided on its straight edge with anges and acentral recess, the links of the chain provided with laterally-extendedears secured to the semicircular plate, said links lying in the centralrecess, whereby the chain is permitted to come described.

14. In a grain-elevator having a suitable supporting truck-frame,pthemain upright conveyer 13 consisting of two sections joined upper sectionhinged to tlic stationary supporting-arm 7d and means mounted upon saidtruck-frame for folding and raising said upper section, substantially asshown and described. j

l5. In a grain-elevator, a suitable supportingtrucklframe, afoldableinclined conveyer, and an auxiliary horizontal upper'conveyercarried by the main conveyer, means connected with the truck-frameforraising the auxiliary conveyer, and means connected with the truck-framefor folding the upper section of the main conveyer and the horizontalconveyer.

1G. In agrailn-elevator, a suitable supportwithin the frame, a swingingcrane carried bythe truck-frame and supporting an inclined con veyer,aninclined foldable conveyer connected with the screw conveyer andcarrying at its upper end a horizontal uppersection, suitable Asupportsconnected with the truckframo and the main conveyer-,a lever pi votallyattached to said support and provided with a the end of the support andto the upperseetion conveyers, each of which is inclosed within a`together nearthe middle portion thereof, theV` and means for guiding-theiiights in the cas- IOO nearer the center of the load, substantially asing truck-frame,V a screw conveyer mounted L ri gilt-angular extension,a spring connected t0 i of the main couveyelgaJ rope or cable attachedat one end to the lever and ibs other end to the windlass on thetrnek-frmne5 said lever adapted t0 be operated through the rope to fold01 raise the upper section of lthe main eonveyer and the horizontaleonveyer Carried thereby, substantially as descxiled.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

XVARREN VATTS.-

Witnesses:

HY. W. STACKPOLE, P. E. PARROTT.

